The Spanish LaLiga returns to our TV screens, with Celta Vigo and Villarreal kicking us off this Friday evening, before a host of exciting fixtures take place across the weekend. Here are our predictions for game week 17.
Friday 13 January
17/10 Celta Vigo | Draw 2/1 | Villarreal 9/5 (20:00)
We kick the game week off with a tie between Celta Vigo and Villarreal. The Galician side come into this game off a 1-0 win away at last-placed Elche and will now aim to snap a four-game winless run at the Abanca-Balaidos. Villarreal, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their impressive form as they aim to get into the top four. The away win is tipped.
Saturday 14 January
7/4 Real Valladolid | Draw 85/40 | Rayo Vallecano 13/8 (13:00)
The first game on Saturday sees Real Valladolid host Rayo Vallecano. Pacheta’s side are languishing down in 15th place in the table and have suffered three defeats in a row. Rayo, on the other hand, suffered their first defeat in eight games with a 2-1 loss at home to Real Betis. The Vallecas side will seek to bounce back immediately and register their first win of the new year. Back the visitors to win at 13/8.
11/8 Girona | Draw 9/4 | Sevilla 2/1 (15:15)
Sevilla climbed out of the relegation zone after a 2-1 win over Getafe on Sunday, and Jorge Sampaoli’s side will look to make it back-to-back wins as they continue their surge up the table. As for Girona, they needed a late goal to earn a 2-2 draw away at 19th-placed Espanyol last weekend. This is one of those games you really want to be avoiding. But if you must have a go, back the visitors on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 11/20.
21/20 Osasuna | Draw 2/1 | Mallorca 16/5 (17:30)
Saturday’s penultimate game sees Osasuna and Mallorca square off at the El Sadar Stadium. The hosts are winless in their last three matches in LaLiga, losing back-to-back games against Barcelona and Real Sociedad followed by a goalless draw away at Athletic Bilbao. Mallorca, on the other hand, have won three of their last four games in the league and won this fixture 2-0 last season. The away win is available at 16/5 – that’s simply too good to pass up.
7/5 Real Sociedad | Draw 21/10 | Athletic Bilbao 85/40 (20:00)
Real Sociedad entertain Athletic Bilbao at the Reale Arena in Saturday’s final fixture. The Basque side have won their last six competitive matches and will look to continue their good form. Bilbao, on the other hand, will look to get back to winning ways following back-to-back 0-0 draws against Real Betis and Osasuna. Ernesto Valverde’s team are also seeking to snap a five-game winless run on the road. In what should be a tight affair, I’m backing Sociedad to capitalize on home advantage.
Sunday 15 January
29/20 Getafe | Draw 15/8 | Espanyol 85/40 (13:00)
Getafe will look to snap their two-game losing streak when they host Espanyol on Sunday at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Quique Sanchez Flores’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Levante to exit the Copa del Rey and were beaten 2-1 away at Sevilla in LaLiga on Sunday. The Madrid-based side did, however, win their last home game, claiming a 2-0 victory over Mallorca thanks to a brace from Borja Mayoral. Espanyol meanwhile have been the draw specialists having shared the spoils in five of their last six games. I’m backing Getafe on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 1/3.
15/4 Almeria | Draw 13/5 | Atletico Madrid 4/6 (15:15)
Atletico Madrid will seek to get back to winning ways when they travel to face Almeria in the final game on Sunday. The Colchoneros were beaten 1-0 at home to Barcelona last weekend with Stefan Savic shown a red card, and Diego Simeone will challenge his side to bounce back immediately. Their opponents Almeria are winless since returning from the World Cup break, drawing 1-1 away at Cadiz, before losing 2-0 at home to Real Sociedad. The away win is the way to go.
Monday 16 January
9/10 Cadiz | Draw 9/4 | Elche 16/5 (20:00)
Two teams in desperate need of points lock horns in a La Liga relegation six-pointer on Monday as 18th-placed Cadiz welcome bottom side Elche. With 11 points more and home ground advantage, the Andalusian side are favourites to bag all three points against the Valencia-based outfit who look likely to be the first club dropping into the Segunda Division. Take the home win here.
TREBLE
Villarreal Win 9/5
Atletico Madrid Win 4/6
Cadiz Win 9/10
